What does your ACT score actually tell you about where you stand?

The average ACT composite score is approximately 20.5 as of the 2023-24 testing year, based on roughly 1.36 million test-takers. This places a student who scores 20 at the 50th percentile of all test-takers nationally. The average has declined from 21.0 in 2018, a trend driven primarily by the expansion of mandatory state testing. When states such as Colorado, Montana, and Nevada require all high school juniors to sit the ACT, the test-taker pool broadens beyond self-selected college-bound students, which tends to lower the average without necessarily indicating any decline in student preparation. Average scores vary considerably by state: states with mandatory testing report lower averages, while states where participation is entirely voluntary tend to report higher averages. ACT, Inc. publishes an annual Condition of College and Career Readiness report each autumn with updated national figures. (Source: ACT, Inc. The Condition of College and Career Readiness 2024. act.org.)

Both tests are accepted by all US colleges and universities. The choice is largely personal. Students who are strong in Science reasoning may prefer the ACT's dedicated Science section. Those who prefer more time per question may prefer the ACT's pace. Trying a practice test of each and comparing percentile outcomes is the most reliable way to decide.

There is no formal limit on ACT attempts. ACT Inc allows students to take the test up to 12 times. Most students who retake the exam improve their score: ACT data suggests that about 57% of re-testers improve their composite score. Many colleges use superscoring (taking the best section scores across attempts), which further reduces the risk of retaking.

Yes. A composite score of 36 is a perfect ACT score. In 2023-24, fewer than 1% of test-takers achieved a 36. A score of 35 places a student in the 99th percentile. Because the composite is rounded to the nearest whole number from the average of four section scores, it is possible to achieve a 36 composite without a perfect score on every individual section.

Scholarship thresholds vary widely by institution and award. Many state merit scholarships require a composite of 25-28. The National Merit Scholarship uses the PSAT/NMSQT rather than the ACT directly. At highly competitive universities, merit aid is rare regardless of test score because need-based aid is prioritised. Always check each scholarship's specific criteria rather than relying on general benchmarks.

For highly selective universities (Ivy League, MIT, Stanford), the middle 50% of enrolled students typically score between 33 and 36. For broadly selective institutions, 28-32 is generally a competitive range. A score of 30 or above places a student in approximately the 94th percentile, making them competitive at nearly any school in the US. Test score is one factor among many alongside GPA, essays, and extracurricular activities.

A "good" ACT score is any score that is competitive for the institutions on your list. The national average is 20.5 (50th percentile). A score of 24 sits at approximately the 73rd percentile, and 28 reaches the 90th percentile. For moderately selective schools, a score in the 22-26 range is typically competitive. Context matters: a 26 at a school where the median is 28 is below-average for that pool, while the same score at a school with a median of 22 is above-average.

Yes. The ACT has four sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science, each scored 1-36. The composite score is the average of all four, rounded to the nearest whole number. The Science section tests scientific reasoning and data interpretation rather than specific science knowledge, no advanced biology, chemistry, or physics is required. It is the most distinctive feature of the ACT compared to the SAT, which has no equivalent section.

The College Board and ACT published joint concordance tables in 2018 that remain the standard reference for score conversion. Key reference points: a 36 ACT equates to approximately 1590-1600 SAT; a 30 ACT equates to approximately 1390-1400 SAT; a 24 ACT equates to approximately 1160-1170 SAT; and a 20 ACT equates to approximately 1010-1020 SAT. These concordance tables are used by admissions offices at colleges that accept both tests, so a 30 ACT and a 1390 SAT are treated as roughly equivalent in the review process. The conversion is not perfectly linear across the full score range, and individual variation means a student may perform at a higher percentile on one test than their concorded score would suggest. For the most precise comparison, take a full-length practice test of each under timed conditions and compare your percentile outcomes directly. (Source: College Board and ACT. ACT/SAT Concordance Tables. 2018. concordance.collegeboard.org.)

From 2025, the ACT restructured so that the Science section is optional and no longer factors into the composite score. The composite is now calculated from three sections only: English, Mathematics, and Reading. Students who opt to take Science receive a separate Science score reported alongside the composite, but it does not change the composite figure. This means composite scores from 2025 onward are not directly comparable to pre-2025 composites, which were based on four sections. ACT has stated that the new composite is designed to be concordant with the old scale, but percentile tables specific to the new format will not be available until ACT publishes updated norms, expected in autumn 2025. Until those tables are published, use the current percentile data with the understanding that figures are approximate for new-format scores. College admissions offices are aware of the format change and are adjusting their evaluation criteria accordingly. (Source: ACT, Inc. ACT Test Format Changes 2025. act.org.)